Yucca Valley man arrested in sexual assault of Claremont girl

YUCCA VALLEY >> Claremont police on Friday arrested a man who is suspected of beating and sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl in her Claremont home.

Thirteen Claremont officers and a San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy came to the Yucca Valley residence of Joseph Davall, 34, at 6:52 a.m. after identifying him as a suspect in the March 21 incident.

“Evidence located at the crime scene and processed by Los Angeles County crime lab provided us with the suspect’s identity,” said Claremont police Lt. Mike Ciszek.

Davall walked out of his house, in the 7600 block of Joshua Lane, got into his vehicle and drove away while officers were watching the home.

The sheriff’s deputy tried to stop him.

“The suspect failed to stop and led us on a one-mile pursuit back to his home,” Ciszek said.

Police searched his home and seized evidence linking him to the Claremont incident.

He was booked into jail in lieu of $100,00 bail on suspicion of sexual assault and burglary.

Police said Davall allegedly entered a home in Claremont between 10:30 and 11:45 p.m. The victim was alone in the house.

Investigators don’t know why the man, who lived more than 90 miles away, was in the city. He has no connection to the victim or her family.

It was a case that generated more than 400 tips from Southern California residents, as well as 10 law enforcement agencies in San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

Authorities from the other agencies either provided information on known suspects in similar crimes from their jurisdictions, or had similar crimes where a suspect isn’t known.

Davall’s name wasn’t among the names provided by other agencies.

But Claremont police plan to work with other law enforcement, because Davall may have had other victims.

“There may be other victims within the Southern California area,” Ciszek said.